TWO Nigerians, identified only as Collins and Osas, have reportedly died in Tripoli, Libya, under circumstances believed to be linked to poisoning.
According to reports gathered by newsmen on Saturday, the victims, who were based in Misrata, had travelled with a friend to Tripoli on July 20.
Sources familiar with the incident said the friend later returned to Misrata alone, while Collins and Osas chose to remain in Tripoli. Days later, news emerged that both men had died, allegedly from food poisoning.
A relative of Collins disclosed that the trio had visited an area known as Oshofana, described as a hub for different kinds of business dealings.
While the friend returned after four days, the deceased opted to stay behind. “It was about two days later that the friend claimed he got a call saying both of them had died,” the source said.
The account has since raised suspicions among Nigerians in Libya, with some questioning the credibility of the friend’s explanation.
Another source noted that colleagues in the community are pushing for a thorough investigation into the matter. Both victims have since been buried in Libya.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abdurrahman Balogun, said the commission had not been formally notified of the incident. He advised the families to submit a petition for the matter to be addressed.
The development comes just weeks after two other Nigerians, identified as Austin and Ayo, were shot dead by masked gunmen in Durban, South Africa, further highlighting growing concerns about the safety of Nigerians abroad.